5 Technology Jobs for Criminal Justice Majors

Forensic Science Technician

Private Detective

Computer Forensics Investigator

Fraud Investigator

Blood Spatter Analyst

With the rise of technology in everyday life, it is almost possible to commit and solve crimes without the use of computers, digital data, and complex machinery. This is great news for criminal justice majors who also enjoyed computer and technology courses. These five criminal justice technology jobs are great options to pursue after college.

1. Forensic Science Technician

Those who prefer working somewhere new every day will enjoy careers as forensic science technicians. They travel from case to case, scene to scene investigating evidence left behind from crimes. This requires the type of analytical mind needed for work with intricate technologies. It also requires excellent written and verbal communication skills for translating technical jargon into language that others involved in the investigation will understand. Forensic science technicians earn an average of between $50,000 and $60,000 per year.

2. Private Detective

While it is nostalgic to think of private detectives walking around with a magnifying glass wearing trench coats and bowler hats, this is not quite how it works in modern society. Instead of a magnifying glass, private detectives today are usually working on some sort of technological device to analyze data, run background checks, track and observe suspects, and conduct digital investigations and research. This is an excellent career for those with critical thinking skills and the patience to solve mysteries. Private Investigator EDU compiled information about the latest technological developments used in this line of work. Private detectives earn between $40,000 and $50,000 annually on average.

3. Computer Forensics Investigator

Criminal justice majors who found themselves taking as many computer science courses as possible will thrive in careers as computer forensics investigators. They work strictly with computers rather than going back and forth between technology, people, and crime scenes. They utilize the most highly complex and advanced technical skills to analyze digital data related to criminal investigations. The average annual salary for computer forensics investigators varies widely based on experience and agency.

4. Fraud Investigator

The vast majority of fraud crimes today take place online, so fraud investigation has become a highly technological field. Fraud investigators comb meticulously through data to determine if the fraud claim is legitimate, who committed it, and how they accomplished it. The National Consumers League began a project called Fraud.Org to educate the public on tech fraud, which should provide a good sense of whether or not this is a desirable career field. Fraud detectives earn an annual salary of between $50,000 and $60,000 on average.

5. Blood Spatter Analyst

Those who enjoy being in the thick of the crime scene will enjoy careers as blood spatter analysts. They analyze blood from crime scenes and work to determine how the blood got there in the first place. This job involves the use of complex and intricate machinery to analyze the blood, databases to track the DNA and attempt to find the person the blood came from, and computer programs that help analyze the splatter patterns. The typical annual salary for this job is between $50,000 and $60,000.

From roaming around crime scenes to hunkering down in a tech lab, these criminal justice technology jobs offer something for every type of mind. They each combine criminal science and technology in unique ways. They all contribute to the shared goal of facilitating criminal justice.